THE WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1349, 9 January 1905, Page 2

THE WAR.

GENERAL ITEMS,

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright London, Jan 6.

Russian officers' declare that of the casualties requiring at Port Arthur, at leaßt eight thousand are Japanese.

Tho Prize Cou.t condemned the steamer Nigrotia, recently captured by the Japanese, to bo confiscated, because tho captain and lieutenant of the Russian destroyer Raztoropin, whioh took refuge at Chifu, were aboard, trying to escape. Russia baa protested to tho Chinese Government against a Chinese detachment participating in the fighting at Tailing Pass, also against Japan using Miaotao Islands as a naval base.

The newspaper Le Matin implies that the authorities of Madagascar are less alive to the necessity of observing strict neutrality than the Frenoh Government. Borne Germun colliers following the Baltic fieot oxperienoed mishaps. Russia is trying to obtain coal and faoilitiss to repair the fleet at Madagascar, also maps, routes, and anenorages of the Indian

Ocean. - It is eemi-officially stated that the Battle fleet remains outside Frenoh territorialwaters. • The premiums offering at Lloyds are equivalent to 2 to 1 against the termination of the war by May. - There are indications that only the parts of the battleships above the waterline have been destroyed at Port Arthur; There are no signs of interior explosions. The Japanese hope that repairs will be possible. Frenoh advices state, that Admiral Foelkereahm is off Tamatave. He telegraphs that two cruisers of the squadron are useless, owing to tho breakdown oi their machinery. > Generals Stoessels and Nogi had a two* hburß* interview at a cottage at Shinshi village. General Socoosel was . given parole, and is returning to Russia via Nagasaki. The Times’ Vienna correspondent reports that the Kaiser, on the eve 'Of war, urged the Czar to reflect before rejecting the Japanese terms, concluding his advice with the remark that in view of hie explicit information as to the respective forces be feared the result. The Ozar replied; that all measures had been taken to assure viotory.

RUSSIA’S DIGNITY. NO SUGGESTION FOB PEACE. JAPANESE PRECAUTIONS. By Tel,“graph Presß Association—Copyright ■ ; Received 6.3 p.m., Jan. 8. London, Jan. 7. ' (Delayed in, Transmission.) The Council of Ministers at St. Petersburg decided that any suggestion of peace was incompatible with the dignity of Russia.

The Japanese are bridging tho Tain, linking the Corean and Chinese railways, and strengthening General |Knroki. A new field railway has been established southwards of the Japanese lines at Shaho. , The Russian batteries at Shaho were client for two days following the fall of Port Arthur. There many heavy guns bombarded the Japaneae positions almost incessantly. Though there are no indications of either side taking the offensive General Sakharoff reports that Russian patrols damaged the embankment ten'miles north of Haioheng, derailing an engine. Lloyds. agenoy reports it was unable to deteot any evidenoe of Runeia arranging to obtaining ooals and provisions for the Baltic fleet at Diego Saurez.' It has cancelled two large shiploads of arms and ammuninion from Libau to the East Indian Archipelago and Saigon.:. The Japanese are fortifying Quel pact.

AFFAIRS IN PORT ARTHUR.

GENERAL STOESSEL’S GIFT TO JAPANESE.

By Telegraph—Presa Association—Copyright

Received 5.63 p.m., Jan-7* London, Jan. 8, (Delayed in Transmission). .

The Japanese have taken possession of all the Port Arthur forte. Eighty-six ofSoers have been paroled, and ~ 82, who prefer oaptivity, aooompany 5000 Russian regulars, who marohed out and proceeded to Dalny. ' The Japanese foroes have entered Port Arthur to keep order. ' Non-combatants were given the option of remaining. Japanese sailors are clearing the harbor of mines, and are removing sunken Japanese hulks at the entranoe of the channel.

The Daily Express states that during their interview in a oottage at Sbiushi, General Nogi admired General Stoessel’s oharger. General Stoessel instantly begged him to aooept it. General Nogi declined to reoeive it as b personal gift, bat gladly aooepted it on behalf of the army! asanring him that it would always be regarded as one of their proudest possessions. The Times’ military oritio deolarea that there are no immediate prospects of im portant movements at Shaho unless necessitated. The desire is to dtetraot.attention from the internal situation in Russia,

It is estimated that General Kuropatkin’s foroes do not exoeed a quarter of a million, including 60,000 reinforcements since the battle of Shaho.